Speaker help for a newbie.....

[Treozen]

Hello folks - First a big thank you since this forum has been tremendously helpful in my recent audio upgrades. Now I come to you for more help, this time with speakers...this gets a little complicated so I'll try provide as much info as I can - bearing in mind that I've no idea what any of it means ;-)

I recently upgraded my Receiver (actually I upgraded the DVD player, which I somehow managed to convince myself necessitated a new receiver.....aint logic wonderful?)

Current audio setup:

Receiver: Yamaha RX - V663
DVD player: Panasonic BD30K
Speakers: 7.1 arrangement

The tale of woe....(grab some pop corn, this might take a while)

When I got my first surround sound system, I barely had two quarters to bang together in one pocket. So I went with the "Home Theater in a Box" solution. It cost me $400. It was good, very good actually for the money, I thought anyway. This is it:

http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?modelId=MODL011020&pathId=30&page=2&archive=true

About a year after I got the system I decided I wanted some different speakers. I bought new rear and front speakers, retaining the original center speaker and Subwoofer. Lets fast forward about 8 years.....

Now older and a little more flush with cash, I manage to convince my wife that "really honey, we need blu-ray". In some amazing feat of marital acrobatics I also convince her that an HDMI-capable receiver is the way to go. I acquire the above listed components, hook everything up and decide that its pretty darned good.....except I'm still using the same speakers. Logic tells me my "theater in a box" speakers from 8 years ago probably aren't doing my new receiver justice and so I'd appreciate some advice on changes, brands, etc

Here are how things look now. I've provided specs where possible and links to the product for your reference.

7.1 set up. Room size: 25 X 25

Center Speaker: Original "theater in a box" center speaker. Specs as follows:
-Freq. Response 200Hz - 16 kHz, Magnetically shielded 3" Woofer and 1/2" liquid cooled polyamide dome tweeter. Made by JVC

Front speakers: Pair of SONY Bookshelf speakers.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SS-MB150H-Bookshelf-Speakers-Pair/dp/B0002553J6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1222914308&sr=1-1

Specs:
· 2-way, ported (bass-reflex) bookshelf speaker with 120-watt maximum power handling, 8-ohm speaker impedance
· 5.25-inch Kevlar/HOP (high strength, low weight, and low resonance) driver and a 1-inch tweeter
· Nano-Fine balanced-dome tweeter rated to 50 kHz; bass response extends to 80 Hz
· Frequency response 80Hz-50,000 Khz.

Rear speakers (what would be the only rear speakers in a 5.1 setup):
Pair of SONY Tower speakers, match to the bookshelf front speakers.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SS-MF650H-3-Way-Floorstanding-Speakers/dp/B00029U12Q

Specs:
· 3-way, ported (bass-reflex), 180-watt maximum power handling, 8-ohm speaker impedance
· Kevlar/HOP (high strength, low weight, and low resonance) drivers
· Nano-Fine balanced-dome tweeter rated to 50 kHz; bass response extends to 40 Hz
· Dual 6 1/2" Improved H.O.P. Cone - Bass Driver, a 3 1/4" Improved H.O.P. Cone - Mid Driver, a 1" Nano-Fine Balanced Dome Tweeter
· Frequency Range of 40Hz - 50kHz

Rear-most speakers (the extra rears making a 7.1 set up)

Original "theater in a box" satellites. Specs:
Frequency Response 200Hz - 16 kHz . Magnetically shielded - 3" Woofer and 1/2" liquid cooled polyamide dome tweeter. Made by JVC

Subwoofer:

I have choice of (technically i could run both, the Yamaha RX - V663 can support 2 subwoofers):

Polk Audio psw202
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-1evvDmyKxJk/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=107PSW202

Specs: 50 watt RMS amp, frequency response 40-180 Hz (-3dB), continuously variable 80-160 Hz crossover, 10" front-firing driver

OR

Original "theater in a box" subwoofer:
Specs: Anti-Clipping Circuit, Fixed low pass filter. Freq. Response 33 - 200 Hz. Subsonic filter, 10" front-firing driver, 100W. Made by JCV.

Ok - thanks for reading this far!....

I would very much like to not replace the Sony speakers - aside from the fact they appear to work well, I really would rather sleep in my bed than on the couch . SO, I was thinking that I would move the SONY bookshelf speakers to the rear-most channel - making the matching SONY speakers cover all the rear channels, then replace the center and front speakers with something else - question is ...what?

Budget: Don't make me cry. I'm not looking for the top of the line and all I ever do is watch movies with this system - no music or such. Still, I want to make sure my speakers do a pretty good job for the new Yamaha receiver.

Thoughts? Opinions? I appreciate your time and help!.

Thanks,

Allan (Treozen).

 

[bandphan]

Just some consideration- speakers including the sonys should be upgraded. Untill you do that your system is the same with some new bells & whistles

 

[markw]

I was thinking that I would move the SONY bookshelf speakers to the rear-most channel - making the matching SONY speakers cover all the rear channels, then replace the center and front speakers with something else - question is ...what?

Good idea. The surrounds are the least critical speakers in the system, particularly for a mostly movies implementation.

Budget: Don't make me cry. I'm not looking for the top of the line and all I ever do is watch movies with this system - no music or such. Still, I want to make sure my speakers do a pretty good job for the new Yamaha receiver.

C'mon, guy. Be real.

After that long, rambling diatribe you've got to throw us a bone here. If you really want answers, state your budget for the front three. FWIW, I doubt that sub you're looking at will satisfy you for long, particularly when you upgrade your fronts.

 

[Davemcc]

You will have to do some in-person auditioning of speakers to find out what kind of sound you like. There are so many characteristics of speakers that influence the sound, what pleases one ear may not please another and probably won't please yours unless you've been able to hear it for yourself. If you can describe the characteristics of a speaker you would like to have and a budget, perhaps some people here can point you in the right direction regarding brands or models to choose from.

But as a basic starter, if you want to find a speaker that will work well with that receiver, start looking at speakers that are 8 ohm nominal and around 90dB sensitivity. This includes most consumer brand speakers. Your receiver will have no trouble with those.

 

[mazersteven]

I read that whole post (almost feel asleep twice) and I still can't figure out what the OP is looking for.

 

[calnbs]

I recently upgraded my Receiver (actually I upgraded the DVD player, which I somehow managed to convince myself necessitated a new receiver.....aint logic wonderful?)

Allan (Treozen).

LOL I can definately relate to this statement. ROFL. One day, I decided I need a PS3 to play games....Well since PS3 is a Blue Ray player and to benefit from HD, I need a HDTV too. Since I am getting an HDTV, I need surround sounds to go with it too. $5,000+ later...I haven't even got that HDTV yet but somehow ended up with 2 receiver, 18 speakers and 2 subwoofers.

Anyways, to point you to the right direction....we gotta know what your price range is. It's like car shopping, no point of pointing you towards BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, when you have a budget for a used Honda Civic or vice-versa.

 

[jamie2112]

I read that whole post (almost feel asleep twice) and I still can't figure out what the OP is looking for.

Me too...????

 

[Treozen]

Good idea. The surrounds are the least critical speakers in the system, particularly for a mostly movies implementation.

C'mon, guy. Be real.

After that long, rambling diatribe you've got to throw us a bone here. If you really want answers, state your budget for the front three. FWIW, I doubt that sub you're looking at will satisfy you for long, particularly when you upgrade your fronts.

Budget: $1000 +/- for front three
Quality level: Middle of the road is fine. I dont need to have the best of the best speaker, just a reasonable set up.

I appreciate the response - but people come here for help probably because they are pretty much cluless and I was attempting, in good faith, to be as "real" as possible given my stated limited understanding of speaker dynamics, logistcs, costs,etc. Hardly a "rambling diatribe" either since the post was specific in subject and the detail nessesitated the length. I put alot of effort into trying to find what info I though was important for you to know and I don't think you need to be insuting to make your point.

My post is also pretty clear on what Im looking for, assuming one bothers to read it rather than ...fall asleep?

Thanks for the help.

 

[mazersteven]

Budget: $1000 +/- for front three

My post is also pretty clear on what Im looking for, assuming one bothers to read it rather than ...fall asleep?

Fall asleep on these

Ascend Acoustics
CMT-340
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

CMT-340 SE
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340c/cmt340c.html

 

[mazersteven]

Hey Rip Van Winkle. Over here


AV123 x-mtm encore
http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,175/category_id,21/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

AV123 x-cs encore
http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,174/category_id,21/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

 

[jcPanny]

5.1 HT speakers

You might consider a 5.1 speaker package for around $1k like the one from SVS. You will get good quality bookshelf speakers and a nice sub. AV123 is another ID companies and has their X-series and ELT525 speakers in the same price range.

If you are set on upgrading the front 3 channels for $1k start listening to lots of options at local dealers. Look for Paradigm, Klipsch reference, Engergy, Def Tech, and others at local dealers. Let your ears decide.

 

[mazersteven]

These will wake your sleep arse up.

Diva by Swans 6.1
http://www.ozhometheater.com/ozht_prodcat_htspeakers_floorstanding_6.1bc.htm

Diva by Swans C2
http://www.ozhometheater.com/ozht_prodcat_htspeakers_center_c2bc.htm

 

[calnbs]

Agreed with all the above suggestions. If it was me, I would go ahead and sell all the old speakers on craigslist and get all matching speakers. And may be even new subwoofers as well.

Take a look at the ELT package:

http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,279/category_id,51/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

 

[Treozen]

Thanks - I think I prefer the Ascend Acoustics - not so much for technical detail but color and fit in the room - I'd rather not have four towers - the Ascend acoustics looked shorter. I'd probably need to move the cebter speaker though because I think its too tall to fit on the shelf whiel also missing the shelf above it (shelves don't move.

For references sake - I have better legs than the guy oin the picture. ;-)

 

[Treozen]

Agreed with all the above suggestions. If it was me, I would go ahead and sell all the old speakers on craigslist and get all matching speakers. And may be even new subwoofers as well.

Take a look at the ELT package:

http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,279/category_id,51/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

Hey now I like those! matching would be best I guess and the price seems right.

How do you know how "good" a speaker is when looking at them side by side? Some retail locations don't have the sound room where you can hear them and those that do dont always have all the speakers hooked up. Is there a "good" frequency range or technical details that I should either look for or stay away from?

 

[zumbo]

Beech is the only color available for a matching set. Price is right in the budget. This line of speakers are not made anymore. The new line cost twice as much(bookshelf pair), and I doubt they are any better. Due to the fact they are not made anymore, there is only a fraction of them left at different places. I purchased mine from Yawa, which has the center. The others would have to come from United. Both e-tailers are highly recommended. I can assure you there are not speakers available for the price that can compare to build quality, and sound quality.

Set of three would cost $1149.98

$549.99 for the center (7"H/19"W/13"D)
http://www.yawaonline.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=YO&Product_Code=MBQ_QLS330&Category_Code=SP

$599.99 for the pair
http://eusa.stores.yahoo.net/mbquql62slib.html

New line prices are each. The set of three would cost $1799.85

$549.95 each
http://store.audioholics.com/product/785/19/mb-quart-alexxa-b-one-cherry-w-black--each-

$699.95
http://store.audioholics.com/product/788/21/mb-quart-alexxa-c-one-cherry-w-black--each-

 

[mazersteven]

For references sake - I have better legs than the guy oin the picture. ;-)

Something your trying to tell us? LOL

 

[Treozen]

Something your trying to tell us? LOL

Only that a good leg waxing can do wonders for your appreciation of HD sound - no idea why, but its a universal constant.

 

[kaducii]

Something I noticed while researching. AV123.com charges shipping, so for a set of X-SLS or X-MTM shipping came out to $100... For the set reviews said the the x-sub is a really great sub, i checked on their website but it doesn't seem like you can buy the x-sub seperate. Also they have x-ls and x-mtm B-stock (minor cosmetic flaws they described it) for 50% off, worth a thought if you want to channel your resources elsewehere =).

 

[dronezero]

How do you know how "good" a speaker is when looking at them side by side? Some retail locations don't have the sound room where you can hear them and those that do dont always have all the speakers hooked up. Is there a "good" frequency range or technical details that I should either look for or stay away from?

You can't tell how good a speaker is by looking at them. You need to be able to listen to them under at least decent conditions. In order to do this you need to find a specialty home theater store in your area. Before you spend any money I would select several songs/cds that you are very familiar with and take them to your local Home Theater/Audio store (not Best Buy or other big box store). Spend time listening to the various speakers there. If the store is good they will have sales representitives that can point you towards speakers that would fit your budget and needs. Be prepared to spend a few hours listening to speakers.

This does not mean you have to buy from that store or even from a local store. Others have recommended internet direct speakers, which are fine, but you should first know what kind of performance to expect for your money.

Also I would recommend spending as much as $400 on a good sub if able. You should still be able to get an acceptable front stage for $600. Since you are using this as purely home theater the sub is going to be of importance.